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Who is a Board Recognized Fluency Specialist?
Several Specialty Recognition programs for professionals with advanced training and treatment expertise in various specialty areas in the field of speech language pathology have been approved by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. A specialized area such as Fluency and Fluency Disorders must petition the Council for Clinical Specialty Recognition of ASHA in order to have a specialty recognition program approved. This is done to be certain that each program meets standards of high quality and protects the best interests of consumers. Specialty Recognition in Fluency and Fluency Disorders was the first Specialty Recognition Program approved in 1998.
Board Recognized Fluency Specialists in the Inaugural Cadre of Specialists (approved from 1999 to 2001) are professionals who have voluntarily submitted to extensive review of credentials by peers on the Specialty Board on Fluency Disorders. This review by the Board indicates full-time equivalent clinical experience, demonstrates in-depth knowledge of stuttering and other fluency disorders as well as treatment of these disorders, demonstrates deep commitment to serving persons who stutter and their families, and a significant portion of their clinical practice is devoted to treating stuttering. Furthermore, in order to maintain Board Recognized Fluency Specialist Status, the specialist must participate in 45 hours of continuing education over a three-year period and maintain active clinical practice in the area of stuttering. Credentials are submitted to the Board for review every three years.
Board Recognized Fluency Specialists who have been approved after 2001 have at least two years of full-time equivalent clinical experience, hold the Certificate of Competence,
have completed 100 hours of post graduate educational training in fluency disorders, completed 100 hours of guided and supervised clinical practice with persons who stutter and their families under the supervision of a Board Recognized Fluency Specialist Mentor, submitted a portfolio of clinical work for review and approval and passed a national fluency disorders specialty examination.
Board Recognized Fluency Specialist is the designated title for professionals who have been approved by the Specialty Board on Fluency Disorders. These professionals would indicate their certification by ASHA as CCC-SLP (Certificate of Clinical Competence-Speech-Language Pathology) and their Specialty Recognition in Fluency Disorders as
BRS-Fluency Disorders (Board Recognized Specialist-Fluency Disorders).
Lists of Board Recognized Fluency Specialists may be found on this web site listed by state or alphabetically by name.
CLICK HERE FOR LISTS OF SPECIALISTS
What are the benefits of working with a Board Recognized Fluency Specialist?
The consumer can be assured that the Specialist has the knowledge, interest, commitment and skills to provide high quality services to persons who stutter and their families.
Specialists have devoted a significant portion of their clinical practice to working with stuttering and related disorders and have focused continuing education heavily in the area of stuttering.
Board Recognized Fluency Specialists have chosen to seek recognition and voluntarily
submitted to peer review due to their commitment to treating stuttering and their desire to assist the consumer in locating appropriate services.
Some specialists work more with one age group or another or provide specific therapy approaches rather than a variety of approaches. However, Specialists are knowledgeable about other services in your area and will try to help you locate the services you are seeking.
What if Specialists are not available in my area?
If a specialist is not available in your area, you might consider seeking an evaluation from a specialist in your region to provide a comprehensive evaluation and recommendations that might be carried out by a generalist in your immediate area. This is not unlike a general practice physician working hand in hand with a medical specialist. Teleconferencing and video review maybe used to collaborate during the treatment process. Involvement of a Fluency Specialist as a consultant to guide and assist the generalist may greatly enhance treatment effectiveness.
It is quite common for Specialists in universities or clinics to partner with generalists in the public schools. You should know that there are a significant number of fluency specialists in the public schools who serve as consultants to their colleagues. Whether you are contacting a hospital, public school, university or clinic, begin by asking to speak with a Board Recognized Fluency Specialist.
The Specialty Recognition Program in Fluency Disorders is young. In just four years, SBFD has approved just over 300 Board Recognized Fluency Specialists. With continued partnering between consumers and concerned professionals, the SBFD will be able to assist in promoting a significant growth in the professions ability to serve more adequately persons with stuttering problems and their families.
In order to practice as a certified Speech Language Pathologist, an individual
must hold a Certificate of Clinical Competence awarded by the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association. This certificate assures the consumer
that the professional in question has completed a rigorous training program,
passed a national examination, and completed a post graduate clinical fellowship year
of supervised work experience.